Give Thanks Banner

I am thankful that my Give Thanks Countdown Calendar is finished before Thanksgiving!  This pattern is from Everyday Celebrations by LeAnne.  You can also find lots of her super cute patterns at her Etsy Shop.

This was the first major project I did on grandma's Bernina since getting it back from the shop.  Wow!  The machine is so quiet and runs so smooth.  It treated the felt like it was no problem at all!  I really love this little banner and hope it will become a nice family tradition; maybe even heirloom.

I've considered putting together an Advent Calendar but I think I'll do that project next year.  We have the Fisher Price Little People Nativity Advent Calendar that works well for a 1 and 3 year old.  This year when we visited the Mall of America we stopped by the LEGO store and picked up the 2010 LEGO Advent Calendar too - so, I think we're set for this year.  But, I'm filing all those cute Advent Calendar ideas I'm starting to see on-line for the 2011 season!

Looked up the Iowa State Fair entry list (2010 list) and there is a class for Sewing for the Home - Holiday Decoration.  Unless I put together something I like better this fits the class (and makes #3 for November)!

Autumn Wreath and Centerpiece

Decided that it was time to make a nice autumn wreath.  Usually we are so busy prepping for Christmas wreaths my Thanksgiving/Autumn decor is overlooked.  I am more used to working with live materials but artificial items also have their own unique bonuses (easy to remove and relocate or fix stems and flowers, can stay outside in bitter cold weather, not necessarily as costly as live floral supplies).  

Below are some of the materials I use for putting together artificial arrangements.  Dry foam, needle nose pliers/wire cutters, pliers, floral wire, floral tape, floral pins and a glue gun.  I keep all of my supplies (except the foam) in one of those handy see through totes (I also keep my live floral arranging materials in there).

For the wreath- started with a grapevine wreath (pretty cheap at Hobby Lobby) and added the large features first.

Then filled in wreath with flowers.  I like to put all of the floral items that I will consider using in a large bucket and set on a stool - this way I can see them easily and they are at a nice height for cutting.

Finished off by making the bow.  I like to make the bow to match the size of the wreath but ready made bows are easy to use too.  When making my own bows I prefer to use wired ribbon - this allows some play with the fluffing and arranging of the ribbon.

Ah, this wreath makes me smile - it also counts as an Iowa State Fair Entry!  

This will go in the Creative Arts Department.

Total Cost: ~ $15 (most of the items bought on sale or clearance)

Moving on (coincidently to Iowa State Fair Entry #2 for the day) - an artificial floral arrangement.

I liked the shape of these two pieces but not the finish.  Really can't stand the bamboo teapot, plus it has a chip in it.  It was one I picked up at an auction to use for the 2010 ISF (part of my teapot quest) but ended up finding something better.  I now have lots of teapots thanks to help from many people :)

So - spray paint!  I love Rustoleum's Oil Rubbed Bronze!  These are much prettier.

Cut my floral foam and put in the pot (be sure to leave at least a 1/2 inch above the top).  Wrapped with moss to cover the foam.

Secure moss to foam.  I start by gluing it to the base and then wrapping it more securely with floral pins.

Repeat similar steps as for wreath and VIOLA!

I also made up some mini arrangements.  These are super cheap and easy.  I have prepped a tutorial for these that will post tomorrow - get your faux leaves ready!

Here is what I did with all the leftovers - pretty much threw them in my second container (no foam or glue) and arranged them until I thought it was a pretty mix.  Although after looking at the arrangement from my chair last night there is one flower that needs removed - sticks out like a sore thumb.

Now it's starting to look like fall in my home!  Starting to feel like fall too - it was 57 degrees in the house this morning so we broke down and finally turned the heat on.  For the grandparents' piece of mind - Grant had a space heater to keep warm at night.

I'll be linking up to:

Works in Progress

This week I have been waking up very early in the morning to get a couple hours sewing/craft work in before the boys wake up at 7:30 am.  I wanted to be farther along but sometimes thats just the way it goes.  So, I apologize for no posts early on in the week but I wanted to actually show some progress.

Let's start with my items for That Girl . . . That Quilt Along:

I know - the photo is pretty bad since I took it tonight (bad lighting).  I just have the rest of the neutral strips to cut.  I was working on that after supper tonight but both of my cutters have bad blades.  You would think after just reorganizing my sewing room I would be able to find my box of new blades (in the scissor/blade drawer would make complete sense) but alas - no.  I'll have to keep searching - it's not like they grew legs and walked away.

Next (and what I have been focused on the past few mornings):

My Thanksgiving Countdown Calendar.  This is a fabulous pattern from Everyday Celebrations - so easy to follow and so lovely!  There is a lot of cutting out of numbers though - especially when you do it twice - blah!  The first time I used a cotton that showed everything through the bottom when it was ironed on.  So, today Grant and I went and found some heavier material - let's hope the new fabric works better!

Best part of this project was everything came from my stash and scraps!  Gotta love that!  The pictures do make my squash colored felt look a bit off - trust me the color really does work in real life!  When it's finished I'll do a nice daytime shot.

I also need to finish all the cards.  Clark helped me cut them out while we were waiting for water to boil for supper.  Need to laminate them and then recut :)- cutting seems to be a theme!

And last, but certainly not least, I am trying to put together something for the Project Compassion craft I'm leading.  Project Compassion is a program at our church where we make a nice crafty item with the youth of the congregation (I think the 6th grade Confirmation Class this time around); pastor puts together a devotion; and a group of volunteers take these items along on a visit to the shut-ins of our congregation.  It really seems to mean a lot to our shut-ins - especially since the youth took the time to think of them and to have a nice visit.  Since I am horrible at visits (my introvertedness gets in the way even though I know it's a great thing) - but this allows me an outlet to help by providing service in a different capacity.

Anyway - I am thinking of little Thanksgiving fabric ornaments that the youth can personalize/decorate.  It was kind of fun playing with fabric markers and stamps today.  It was fabulous to find out that we can stamp onto the fabric!  After playing around with it I think I have come up with a cute little idea.  Sometimes it's just fun to play with fabric and paint.  Plus, good excuse to add these wonderful little stamps to my craft room!